PE Live: Easing unitisation tensions in Mexico

The outcome of upstream discussions could prove to be a turning point for the country’s energy reforms and the future of international participation

Settling unitisation disputes between Mexican state-owned oil company Pemex and several third-party operators is vitally important for the future of Mexico’s upstream sector, a panel of expert speakers agreed on a PE Live webcast last week. “How this first wave of investor-state issues, arising from the petroleum reforms, is resolved is critical for the private sector in Mexico,” says Peter Hays, partner at international law firm King & Spalding. “This is a perfect storm which people have seen coming for a long time.” Foremost in the industry’s thoughts is the dispute over the Zama discovery, the first major find following the landmark energy reforms carried out under former president En